Freeze's Constant Name Dropping of Arkansas Isn't Rib, It's Sign of Respect

For once, Razorback football has something in common with Nick Saban, Alabama

Author:
Kent Smith
Updated:
Jul 18, 2023 4:27 PM EDT
Original:
Jul 18, 2023

In this story:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Newly minted Auburn head football coach Hugh Freeze had the Arkansas Razorbacks' name in his mouth an awful lot at SEC media days Tuesday afternoon. Both in his time at the podium and at the desk with the SEC Network, Freeze couldn't help but allow his win over the Razorbacks as Liberty's head coach last year tumble out of his mouth.

However, it's completely understandable. While Arkansas fans may see Freeze as a potential thorn in their side, it's the Razorbacks who have actually been the thorn in this relationship. A victory over the Hogs is a big deal for the incoming head Tiger.

In 2006, Freeze began his dalliance with Arkansas. That season he was the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator for Ole Miss. When the Rebels came into Fayetteville looking to upset Houston Nutt's No. 15 ranked Razorbacks, Freeze and his players were promptly spanked, 38-3, and sent on their merry way back to Oxford. The next season wasn't much better as Nutt brought his team to Mississippi and issued a 44-8 beat down.

The kicks in the teeth from Nutt kept coming a few months later, although this time it was much more personal. Fleeing Arkansas to take over at Ole Miss, the former Razorback coach was in need of an offensive coordinator. Freeze threw his name in the hat, but was passed over. That meant his dream of one day being a head coach in the SEC had taken a massive hit.

When Freeze finally landed on his feet, it was at the NAIA level coaching Lambuth. His success there created an opportunity to be the offensive coordinator at Arkansas State. There he served under Steve Roberts, who was fired at the end of the season, prompting the Red Wolves to take a risk on Freeze that paid off as ASU went 10-2 in his only season. However, before his players could even get a few practices under their belts for the GoDaddy.com Bowl, Freeze was gone, finally coming full circle at Ole Miss as its head coach.

Despite Arkansas finding itself in an absolute tailspin following the infamous Bobby Petrino motorcycle accident that led to John L. Smith being promoted to head coach, the Rebels barely held on for a 30-27 win in 2012. The following year Freeze managed to come away with a 10-point win, his last against the Razorbacks as an SEC coach of any kind.

The following year, Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to close out a 3-play, 52-yard drive to open the scoring in Fayetteville. That was nearly a third of the 87 yards passing Allen needed to absolutely obliterate a No. 8 ranked Ole Miss team, 30-0, as the Razorbacks ran wild on a Freeze team that just a couple of weeks before was in line for the nation's top ranking.

The following year was the infamous 4th & 25 game where Arkansas tight end Hunter Henry threw the ball wildly over his head while being tackled, ending up in running back Alex Collins' hands with blockers for a miraculous fourth down conversion. Beliema's Razorbacks put up 605 yards, including 442 yards and six touchdowns by Allen, in a 53-52 overtime win that kept the Rebels from going to the SEC championship game.

It should be noted that Freeze has the distinction of beating Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide in back-to-back years, including a win in Tuscaloosa during that failed SEC West championship bid by the Rebels. The Tide then went on to win the national championship and Freeze's tenure as Ole Miss coach ended in disgrace after multiple scandals, one of which included phone calls to escorts, got him fired.

In six tries, a man who boasted two wins over Saban while at the height of Alabama's power, only managed two wins over the Razorbacks. That's why he keeps mentioning the Hogs. Those wins haven't come easy during his time as a coach. They hold value for him.

So, it's not a slight toward Arkansas, looking to needle Sam Pittman a bit, when Freeze brings up Liberty's win over the Razorbacks time and again. Instead, it's a show of respect for a team that he sees as nearly unbeatable in the most annoying of ways.